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Lincoln Park Railsplitters Hope To End Record Losing Streak

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LINCOLN PARK (WWJ) – The Lincoln Park High Railsplitters are hoping to derail their five-year losing streak on the gridiron. The football team has lost 47 straight games and players say a loss Friday night at Woodhaven would tie the state’s all-time record for consecutive losses.

Head coach Jim Kalbfleisch is back for a third stint with the team. He said the squad is loaded with eager underclassmen, but it’s the seniors who really want to beat Woodhaven on the road Friday.

“They want to be the ones to break the streak for sure. There are kids that are working hard. They had a captains practice on their own on the weekend and they’re just working real hard to get over this hump or curse or whatever you want to call it.”

But Kalbfleisch said “the streak” is not discussed at practices or games, as he prefers to focus on how the team has improved this season. And that philosophy is winning over parents and other students too.

“Our parents and student body have been following us real closely. They’re happy that the games are good, they’re fun to watch. So, the kids are excited that the games are at least fun to watch now.”

The team’s storyline will be the focus of the new MTV show “Wait Til Next Year,” which has followed the players as they work to rebuild a winning team. And efforts are being rewarded at the turnstiles – they’ve got fan support at home and away games.

“We’re getting good parents support and good administrative support. Everybody’s behind the football team right now, you know, hoping we get this thing going. We only have two seniors playing on our defense and every week we get a little better defensively. It takes a little longer to build and offense than a defense, you know.”

The Railsplitters play at Woodhaven Friday night, with expectations that it will be a close game.